Can't Meditate? Is meditation hard?

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

I said earlier on there is a reason we go for the feeling at the nose as opposed to feeling the breath moving the belly or torso etc.

In the Anapanasati Sutta as taught by The Buddha there is no mention of feeling the breath in the nose

This may help you.

Breathing in long, he discerns, 'I am breathing in long'; or breathing out long, he discerns, 'I am breathing out long.' [2] Or breathing in short, he discerns, 'I am breathing in short'; or breathing out short, he discerns, 'I am breathing out short.' [3] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in sensitive to the entire body.'[2] He trains himself, 'I will breathe out sensitive to the entire body.' [4] He trains himself, 'I will breathe in calming bodily fabrication.'[3] He trains himself, 'I will breathe out calming bodily fabrication.'

What works for one might not work for others, best to try for yourself and see what helps as did HB and has found progression in His own way....

When you mention there is a reason ' We go ' who is the ' We' ? as The Buddha isn't included.....

[Gem]

Originally Posted by A human Being

I'm not saying your way won't be effective for some people, I'm just saying it might not necessarily be the best approach for everyone.

I'm happy if anyone can critique the method described and point out where it contradicts itself, but I'm pretty confident it's consistent and rely on readers discerning for themselves if it is logical, consistent, congruent, makes sense, adds up. Only on that basis decide if it has enough merit to try it out. In your case, not, because you're further along into body awareness, but what I'm describing can still add precision and refinement to anyone's breath awareness practice. Otherwise, if it's illogical and inconsistent, it's worthless - just discard it.

[sky]

' With your closed eyes you need to focus in the trainagular area between lips and forehead. The breath is observed with closed eyes through the touch it makes inside the nasal cavity.'
https://gurmeet.net/spiritual/breath-meditation/

The Buddha according to the Anapanasati Sutta taught differently and never mentioned the nose/nasal cavity.....
Which way is the correct way ?
The one that works for you imo.....

[BigJohn]

I never knew that meditating was so difficult.........

[sky]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

I never knew that meditating was so difficult.........

It isn't but some like to make it difficult When the body and mind become one 'Entity' your Meditating, simple... all the rest are bonuses.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

I never knew that meditating was so difficult...

Is it easy for you, BigJohn?

I think it's a lot like going in for a swim...the first minute it's not pleasant,
it's SO darn cold...THEN....Ah, its super great, no one can get you out!

[Gem]

It's easy in principle, just feel the air at the nose, but it's also nuanced as it reflects deeply on all the aspects of one's life. Some aspects are disconcerting such as being entirely alone to discern, and I think when someone starts the practice it's not going to be pleasure throughout the body, rapture and all the lovely things. The suttas don't say your legs are going to hurt, or your back is going to ache or your butt cheek is going to go to sleep or you're going to get impatient, bored, uncertain, doubtful and have various self defeating thoughts, so I'm just talking about real things for real people and I'm not going to say it isn't hard. It's a very arduous undertaking.

[Gem]

Originally Posted by sky

The Buddha according to the Anapanasati Sutta taught differently and never mentioned the nose/nasal cavity.....

The Pali is translated to feeling the breath at the front and Buddhists claim this means the front of the face, like a mustache and so forth. Im no Pali scholar so I can't really say, but scholars all over the internet are talking about it, which to me doesn't matter. If you think my reasons or feeling breath at the nostril makes no sense, then you can explain why it makes no sense. Point out the contradiction. If there isn't a contradiction and the logic stacks up, then you can discern, like, huh, makes sense, I see how this could work. Otherwise, just discard it.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Gem

The Pali is translated to feeling the breath at the front and Buddhists claim this means the front of the face, like a mustache and so forth.

I'm referring to the Anapanasati Sutta which doesn't mention nose/nasal cavity.... [1] Breathing in long, he discerns, 'I am breathing in long'; or breathing out long, he discerns, 'I am breathing out long.' [2] Or breathing in short, he discerns, 'I am breathing in short'; or breathing out short, he discerns, 'I am breathing out short.'.... etc:

The Buddha did not teach to observe the breath at the nose tip but Mr Goenka does so whatever works for you is the way to go....

[Gem]

For people who find discerning by reason difficult and require authoritarian confirmation, there are no end of monks spruiking breath awareness at the nose on-line. I went ahead a looked up a few. None I found actually explain it. Although this guy doesn't explain by giving the reasoning behind it, he mentions the nose and nostrils 18 times (word search 'nos').

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/...mma/bl115.html

This link should in no way be used to confirm nor validate anything I said about this meditation. I stand by reason alone, and you need to stand only by your own discernment.

I am providing the link so you can word search 'nos', but please don't use someone who demonstrates no real understanding to validate someone who does. I would consider that offensive (though I wouldn't actually be offended ).